Queen Elizabeth II has used her Christmas address to the nation to hail the importance of family.

She spoke of natural disasters in Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand, the former of which was affected by floods and the latter by an earthquake.

The Queen posed in a red dress ahead of a Christmas tree for her message to the nation (Getty Images)

The Queen and Prince Philip headed to Australia to see the damage caused by flood waters themselves, while Prince William went to New Zealand and ‘saw how communities rose up to rescue the injured, comfort the bereaved and rebuild the cities and towns devastated by nature’.

She noted how family does not necessarily mean blood relations, comparing the 53 nations of the Commonwealth to a family united by a common bond, as well as shared beliefs, mutual values and goals.

The Queen said: ‘It is this which makes the Commonwealth a family of people in the truest sense, at ease with each other, enjoying its shared history and ready and willing to support its members in the direst of circumstance.’

It was also highlighted that the importance of family has been evident to the royal family this year as there have been new additions, with Kate Middleton and Mike Tindall joining the brood.

The former was wed to Prince William at Westminster Abbey in April, while England rugby star Tindall married Zara Phillips later in the year.